THE AUTO SCANNER: 'Toy' Jeep may not be worth the risk

Thursday

Q: I live on the North Shore and have always wanted an older Jeep as a "toy." It would only be used in summer and never on the highway, just around town.

I found a beautifully restored 1981 CJ7 but I’m getting cold feet. One of the visions I have is taking my 6-year-old daughter for ice cream, top down, but I’m concerned about safety. This CJ7 has rear seating and lap belts but obviously that’s not safe enough.

I’ve read about aftermarket family roll bars and wanted to get your thoughts on their usefulness and who would install them? Thank you. -- Dave

A: I am honored you would consider my opinion concerning your safety and the safety of your family. I drive in excess of 350 miles weekly, and what I see out there now is scary. As much as we talk about cellphones not being used when driving, it appears to me to be worse than ever before. People just are not paying attention to their driving as they should be. It has gotten to the point that I no longer want to even take out my motorcycle.

Would I put my granddaughter in the vehicle you want? Nope, sorry, I would not. If you can use it on the beach as a dune buggy, I think it would be a lot of fun. You say just around town Dave, but if a car slams into your side even at 35 mph, you could suffer serious injuries. It is risky for sure. Weigh out the worst scenario versus your life as it is now. I am sure you will make the right decision.

Q: My friend has a 2000 VW Passat with 154,002 miles and took it to a dealer who said it needs $1,300 in work, and she is quite confused about it. Do you think is it worth sinking that money into it? -- Russ

A: This is a difficult question to answer sight unseen. So let’s start with the body. Is it rusted and dented? Is the interior clean, not worn, and rip-free? How are the tires, brakes, transmission and engine? These are all contributing factors.

The car itself has a value of between $2,500 to $3,500 depending on the condition. So, if the above factors are in good shape, and you don’t want to spend $35,000 for a new car, this would not be a bad investment. You certainly cannot replace the car for $1,300.

Have you taken the car to an independent for a second opinion along with prices? If you do look for a second opinion from an independent repair shop, look for the ASE emblem at or near the door. Also make sure they are using Volkswagen Audi Group (VAG) software to repair your car.

Q: I took my 2006 Ford Escape hybrid to my regular mechanic about five weeks ago with a broken brake line. He kept it for two days then gave it back to me with no functioning ABS and the brake pedal barely engaging near the floor.

He handed me his bill then said he could not fix the problem any better and I needed to go to Ford. He did replace the brake line. Could you give me any advice on this? I really don't want to take this out-of-warranty car to Ford if I don't have to.

A: I did a lot of reading on this problem. It is no way unique to your 2006 Escape. They are having a lot of brake line failures. After the line repair, the bleeding of the system must be done using Ford computer software. Many of your better independent repair shops have this software, and of course all dealers do, as well.

A technician without knowledge of this system should in no way be working on the vehicle. You have regenerative brakes, which has to do with a 30-volt charging system. Lack of knowledge could lead to personal injury. So, if you cant find a qualified repair facility, then I advise you bring it to Ford.

Car Care Tip: If you have had a problem similar to others you read about in this column, feel free to write in with your repair. My readers are the best.

Submit car questions to scanauto@aol.com. For more tips and seasonal articles, visit Rte. 1 Auto Service's Facebook page at facebook.com/Rte-1-Auto-Service, or the shop's website at rte1autoservice.com. You can hear Larry and his son Scott on WBZ's NightSide.